Miguel (Mike) Fernandez, Keynote speaker, Small Business Forum

Title: Chairman, MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P.

Career: The Coral Gables-based private equity firm, which has more than $500 million in committed capital, focuses on investing in healthcare service companies nationwide.

Background: Fernandez’s career has centered on acquiring, growing and divesting of healthcare services companies. He was founder, president and CEO of Group Tech Systems, the first national database of group health insurance information. He was founder and CEO of Comprehensive Benefit Administrators, which was sold to RHMO in 1990. He was founder and CEO of Physicians Healthcare Plans, which was sold to Amerigroup Corp. in 2002.

He was founder and controlling shareholder of Prescribit Rx, which was sold to Humana in 2005. He was founder and CEO of CarePlus Health Plans, which was sold to Humana in 2005. He was founder and controlling shareholder of Atlantic Dental, which was sold to Doral Dental in 2008. He was founder and controlling shareholder of Hospitalists of America, which was sold to IPC The Hospitalist Company, in 2008. He has a controlling interest in Navarro Discount Pharmacies, NutriForce, Simply Healthcare Plans, and Better Health.

Best advice received: “Can’t be done is not an acceptable answer.”

David Clarke

Title: CEO, managing partner and co-founder, BGT Partners

Current: Clarke is a pioneer in using technology and data to connect people and brands.

Background: Clarke created BGT in 1996 to deliver innovative, digital solutions to global brands. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and focus on tangible results, he built an agency that is driven by analytics, delivering value across all components of the customer lifecycle.

Best advice received: A quote from the rock musician Neil Young: "It’s better to burn out than fade away."

Rafael Cruz

Title: Regional director, Florida Small Business Development Center

Current: Cruz is in charge of all FSBDC operations in Broward County. Cruz leads a team of certified business analysts who counsel and train entrepreneurs in all critical aspects of successfully starting and running a business.

Background: A marketing and service-industry expert, Cruz held leadership positions in Fortune 500 corporations and privately held companies before joining FSBDC.

Best advice received: “A saying from my mother and great grandmother: ‘El que sabe, no muere como el que no sabe’ (The one that knows does not die like the one that does not know). This reminds us that education and constant seeking of knowledge and wisdom are essential to success.”

Brandon A. Dorsey

Title: Portfolio manager, Backlog Capital Management

Current: Backlog Capital Management’s mission is to provide working capital to growing businesses to help them achieve their goals, while providing its investors with high yielding current income and capital gains for above market total returns and liquidity.

Background: Brandon began his career in 1994 in Boston, and for more than a decade has demonstrated excellence as a portfolio manager and an analyst focused on debt and equity transactions. Brandon has co-managed funds and family office funds where he was responsible for sourcing, underwriting, structuring, closing, managing and disposing of investments.